USU students and staff run for a cause
USU staff and students run for a cause
By Tim Olsen
Sports Editor
Team in Training (TNT) is a national organization that, over the past 20 years, has raised money in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. According to the TNT Web site, there are more than 380,000 participants nationwide.
Recently, this group has found its way into Cache Valley, and participants include USU faculty and students. Now in its second year, the group has more than doubled in size.
The purpose of this group is simple – raise money to save lives.
As a group, the Logan TNT team trains together to run the Salt Lake Marathon and Half Marathon, and in doing so, they raise money for their cause – to the tune of $1,800 per member.
“Because it is a national organization, they research the safest ways to train for a marathon, and it’s kind of geared for the beginner … it was actually my first marathon,” said Erin Davis, a librarian at USU. “My goal was always to run a marathon, but when I found out about this program – that you could actually raise money for a good cause and be training for a marathon … this way you’re actually giving back.”
The funds earned go to support the TNT’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helps further research as well as prolong and improve the quality of life of individuals suffering from these diseases.
Other functions of this group include health insurance co-pay assistance programs, family support groups, patient education programs, first connection volunteers and programs that help children transition back into school.
In Logan, TNT group members run three short-distance maintenance runs during the week and conclude each week with a group run, building up to 15 or 20 miles, every Saturday morning, rain or shine.
“You have this person, your honored teammate in your head the whole time you’re running, so it kind of propels you to keep going,” Davis said.
This year’s group honoree, 8-year-old Ian Gabler of Hyrum, has been an inspiration to the group members, and has even joined them – albeit on his trusty bicycle – for some of their runs.
“I think about the marathon that Ian for his life has been on, and running 50, 60 or 70 miles doesn’t seem that bad,” said Tammy Wheelwright, graduate student in elementary education. “My best run personally was when Ian came out with us on his bicycle … it wasn’t even a race or anything and it was the best run.”
At age 7, Gabler was diagnosed with Acute Myologenous Leukemia and was given a six in 10 chance of survival. After undergoing successful treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital he has gone into remission and has been able to return to the life of a normal 8-year-old.
In an effort to help more individuals, the Logan TNT group will be holding a fundraiser at Firehouse Pizza Sunday from 4:30-9 p.m. The price of admission will be $20 a ticket, $15 for students and $6 for children under 10.
Events will include an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta buffet, a silent auction, a raffle and four live bands. Prizes will include gift certificates from local businesses and a Lava Hot Springs getaway package.
This fundraising event will go a long way in helping the Logan TNT group reach its goal of $15,000. Wheelwright said along with fundraising events, the group receives a lot of donations from local business as well as family members, friends and complete strangers. And, as the donations continue to grow, so does the team.
“Most of the people on the team have some kind of connection … with people who have passed away,” Wheelwright said.
Davis, who is in her second year with the group, said the more she gets involved, the more she realizes how hard leukemia has hit the Valley.
“I think that if we get advertising out there a little bit more, people will step up and say we’d love to be your honor teammate this year,” she said.
Information on the Team in Training group and how to donate can be found on their Web site www.teamintraining.org, or on the Logan teams’ blog, loganTNT.blogspot.com.
–t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu